Американские боги

           "Ijustwantedtosaythat."

           "Yourcommentshavebeennoted,andwillbeconveyedtotheappropriateauthorities,"saidthedriver.

           Thedoorstotheoutsideworldopened.Thesnowwasstillfalling,dizzyingintothecar’sheadlights.Thedriverputhisfootonthegas,andtheywereheadingbackdownthestreetandontoMainStreet.

           "YouheardaboutWednesday?"saidthedriver.Hisvoicesoundeddifferent,now,older,andfamiliar."He’sdead."

           "Yeah.Iknow,"saidShadow."IsawitonTV."

           "Thosefuckers,"saidthewhiteofficer.Itwasthefirstthinghehadsaid,andhisvoicewasroughandaccentedand,likethedriver’s,itwasavoicethatShadowknew."Itellyou,theyarefuckers,thosefuckers."

           "Thanksforcomingtogetme,"saidShadow.

           "Don’tmentionit,"saidthedriver.Inthelightofanoncomingcarhisfacealreadylookedolder.Helookedsmaller,too.ThelasttimeShadowhadseenhimhehadbeenwearinglemon-yellowglovesandacheckjacket."WewereinMilwaukee.StillhadtodrivelikedemonswhenIbiscalled."

           "Youthinkweletthemlockyouupandsendyoutothechair,whenI’mstillwaitingtobreakyourheadwithmyhammer?"askedthewhitedeputygloomily,fumblinginhispocketforapackofcigarettes.HisaccentwaseastEuropean.

           "Therealshitwillhitthefaninanhourorless,"saidMr.